Exaeretia gracilis

Distinguished from similar Exaeretia species by the straw yellow forewing ground color combined with dark brown discal spots and the series of six to seven dark brown spots along the costa and termen. The specific pattern of spotting on the forewings separates it from congeners in North America.

Small moth with wingspan 16–20 mm. Forewings are straw yellow with dark brown discal spots. Series of six or seven dark brown spots present from costa just before apex around termen. Hindwings pale greyish fuscous.

Associated with habitats supporting Ambrosia psilostachya (western ragweed), including prairies, grasslands, and disturbed open areas in the central United States.

North America: recorded from North Dakota south to Texas, and west to California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Iowa.

Larvae feed on Ambrosia psilostachya (western ragweed). Adult feeding habits unknown.

• Ambrosia psilostachya - larval hostwestern ragweed

Specialist herbivore; larval feeding on western ragweed seeds likely contributes to seed predation and potential population regulation of this plant species.

• Other Exaeretia speciesSimilar size and general morphology, but distinguished by forewing coloration and spotting pattern

• moth
• Depressariidae
• North America
• seed predator
• Ambrosia
• specialist herbivore

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• Catalogue of Life
• Grasshopper Collections and Survey
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Bichos Argentinos #2 – Pseudomyrmex sp. | Beetles In The Bush
• Traffic Jam Treehoppers | Beetles In The Bush